Nichushkin back to third line, Goligoski plays forward, Stars practice with tennis ball for puck

Fort Worth Star-Telegram | Oct 23

Well this is an entertainment business and you have to say the Stars are entertaining.

Even in the past two days of practice Lindy Ruff has provided enough information to make Stars fans go crazy on Twitter. Yesterday Valeri Nichushkin was pushed to the top line and the defense pairs were shuffled. Today they went through drills with tennis balls for pucks moved Alex Goligoski to forward moved Nichushkin back down the lineup and placed defenseman Aaron Rome on waivers.

Lots to digest right?

The Stars practiced with this lineup on Wednesday (Erik Cole has taken two maintenance days for a possible injury):

Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Rich Peverley

Ray Whitney-Cody Eakin-Alex Chiasson

Antoine Roussel-Shawn Horcoff-Valeri Nichushkin

Lane MacDermid-Vern Fiddler-Alex Goligoski

Brenden Dillon-Stephane Robidas

Trevor Daley-Jordie Benn

Kevin Connauton-Sergei Gonchar

Ryan Garbutt was in New York visiting the NHL Department of Player Safety for his hit in Sunday’s game against Anaheim’s Dustin Penner and is not expected to be able to play for a few games because of a suspension. Because he still is on the roster the Stars could need an extra forward. They have two extra defensemen so that’s going to enter into the formula in the coming days.

Goligoski skated at forward Wednesday and that’s an option but one that coach Lindy Ruff said was unlikely.

“We had Erik who couldn’t practice today so we just needed four lines” Ruff said of the decision to play Goligoski at forward. “I actually thought he looked pretty good. It’s not easy I’ve done that before and it’s not easy.”

Ruff actually changed from a defenseman to a forward for about three years in his career so he has some history but said that the possibility of Goligoski changing positions is probably pretty slim. What can be taken out of the move is that Goligoski sitting for a game is a possibility.